Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Nurses Association begins this weekend in Vancouver its biennial convention with the federal Minister of Health as keynote speaker. Its theme “Nursing in the 21st Century: Challenge and Change” is timely not only for the nursing profession but also for Canada's health care system.
Canadians know that when they come face to face with their health needs, whether in the ER or ICU, the acute or convalescent ward, the outpatient clinic, community centre or at home, they come with the reality of availability of access. Nurses play a critical role as health care providers. We cannot allow as a nation that their leading role be compromised. Caring and competence are non-negotiable attributes. Therefore governments have a duty to provide the needed resources.
Even as the Government of Canada shares a partnership in commitment to see our health care system attuned to the realities of the new century, I am confident that the Canadian Nurses Association will share with all Canadians the wisdom of its collective experience. Let us wish our nurses success during their weekend convention.